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N0. 6I0,|l0. Patented Aug. 30, I898. D. VICKERS, A. T. DAWSON & G. T.BUCKHAM. FIRING MECHANISM FOR BREECH LOADING ORDNANCE.

(Application filed Nov. 9, 1.897.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

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No. 6|0,|ID. Patented Aug. 30, I898. D. ViCKERS, A. T. DAWSON &. G. T.BUCKHAM. FIRING MECHANISM FOR BREECH LOADING ORDNANGE! (Applicationfiled Nov. 9. 1897.) (No Model.) 3 Shets-$heet 2.

N0. 6|0,I|0. Patented Aug. 30, I898. D. VICKERS, A. T. DAWSON & G. T.BUCKHAM. FIRING MECHANISM FOR BREECI-I LOADING ORDNANCE.

(Applicatipn filed Nov. 9, 1897..-

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

Fly. 7. [9.09

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DOUGLAS VICKERS, ARTHUR TREVOR DAWVSON, AND GEORGE THOMAS BUCKIIAM, OFSHEFFIELD, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS TO VICKERS SONS &

00., LIMITED, OF' SAME PLACE.

FIRING MECHANISM FOR BREECH-LOADING ORDNANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 610,1 10, dated August30, 1898.

Application filed November 9, 1897. Serial No. 657,991. (No model.)Patented in England May 16, 1896, ITO-10,606; inBelgium March 8,1897,1T0. 126,799; in France March 8,1897,N0.26.4,776; in Spain April17,1897, No. 20,528; in Austria April 30, 1897, No. 47/1,524, and inItaly May 8, 1897, XXXII, 44,074.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, DOUGLAS VICKERS, a managing director of VickersSons & 00., Limited, ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON, late lieutenant, R. N.,superintendent of ordnance department,and GEORGE THOMASBUOKHAM,engineer, citizens of England, residing at River Don Vorks,Sheffield, in the county of York, England, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Breech-Loading Ordnance and Their Mountings, (forwhich we have obtained patents in the following countries,viz: AustriaApril 30,1897,No.47/1,524; Belgium March 8, 1897, No. 126,799; FranceMarch 8,1897, No. 264,776; Great Britain May 16, 1896, No. 10,606; ItalyMay 8, 1897, Vol. 32, No. 44,074, and Spain April 17, 1897, No. 20,528,)of which the following is a specification.

Ourinvention relates to mechanism applied at the breech of abreech-loading gun for firing the charge either by percussion orelectrically, as we shall describe, referring to the accompanyingdrawings.

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the firinggear according to ourinvention. Fig. 2 is a section on line 1 1, and Fig. 3 isaplan. Fig. 3is a section on line 2 2 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3of Fig. 1. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 show some of the parts to an enlargedscale, Fig. 4 being a part transverse section, Fig. 5 a rera elevation,and Fig. 6 a plan. Figs. 7, 8, and 9 show a modification of thefiring-gear, Fig. 7 being a rear elevation, Fig. 8 a section on the line4 4 of Fig. 7, and Fig. 9 is a plan.

In Figs. 1, 2, 3, 3 3 4, 5, and 6 the construction is as follows: In andon the sliding bar of a breech mechanism, preferably of the typedescribed in Letters Patent of Great Britain No. 9,780 of 1895, isformed a groove A of varying depth, also an inclined groove A. B is afiring-hammer pivoted to a slide 0 by an axis-pin D and having a toe Bengaging in the groove A. A projection B on the hammer B engages with afiring-spring C of any suitable form. Another projection B on the hammerB engages with the trigger E when the hammer is cooked for porous sionfiring. A handle F is fitted to the hammer B for cooking it. A pin B isfitted and suitably insulated in the boss B of the han1- mer B. This pinB forms an electric contact for electric firing and a striker for percussion firing and passes through a hole in the slide 0. The slide 0 isretained and guided in a nut G and when in the firing position coversthe head of 'a tube or primer. The nut G is carried on the end of the obturating-bolt G and is fitted to it by interrupted rings. In the frontof this nut G is a hole G through which the pin of the hammer passes toreach the tube or primer. A guide for the slide 0 is formed by jaws Gand G projecting downward from the nut G. and so arranged as to allowthe boss 0 formed on the slide G, to move vertically between them. Anextractor for ejecting the empty tube or primer is carried in the nut Gand consists of two levers H and H, carried on a pin H fitted in bossesprovided on the nut G. Around this pin H is a torsion-spring H, whichactuates the lever H, its one end being connected to the nut G and theother to the lever H. The lever H'has on it a proj ection H whichengages with the extractorlever H and is so arranged that on the lever Hbeing forced out it brings the extractorlever H with it, but is free toreturn to its original position without it. The torsionspring H keepsthe lever H in a suitable position. On the slide 0 is a boss 0 whichcontains the retaining-bolt 0 This bolt enters and fits the groove A,the incline of which is so arranged that on the horizontal bar beingmoved it gives the necessary vertical motion to the slide 0 and alsoserves to retain it in the locked position. In the boss 0 and round thebolt 0 is a helical spring C to enable the retaining-bolt O to bewithdrawn from the groove A when necessary for detaching thefiring-gear. The spring 0 which actuates the hammer, is carried in arecess cut in the slide 0. The trigger E, for holding the hammerB incocked position for percussion firing, is pivoted to the end of theretaining-bolt C and is actuated by a double lever-cam E, which allowsthe trigger to be released from either side or the rear of the gun. Asuitable insulated contact-piece is carried in the nut 13, which isscrewed to the boss on the hammer B and makes an electric contact withthe firing-pin B The action is as follows: On the first movement of thesliding bar of the breech mechanism in unlocking the breech-plug thehammer B is caused to move away from the tube or primer by means of thetoe B being forced outward by the varying depth of the groove A, thusbreaking the electric circuit between the firing-pin B and the tube andpreventing the pin B from striking the percussion-tube. On the continuedmovement of the sliding bar the toe is brought out of the groove A andrides on the face of the bar, thus insuring safety while the breechmechanism is unlocked. At the same time the slide 0 is moved verticallyaway from the tube or primer, leaving its end uncovered, by means of theretaining-bolt 0 being actuated by the groove A. This vertical movementof the slide O causes the projection O to engage with the extractorleverH, which in turn forces the lever H backward,thereby ejecting the tubeor primer. On withdrawing the retaining-bolt (J from the groove A in thesliding bar the slide 0 can be moved vertically downward and the lockworked without moving the sliding bar of the breech. To cock the hammerB for percussion firing, it is drawn rearward by hand until it is caughtby the trigger E, which can be released from either side or rear of thegun.

In'Figs. 7, 8, and 9, showing a modification, instead of the swinginghammer B, pivoted. on the slide O, we use a sliding hammer C This hammerC is suitably insulated in a tube 0 which works inside a boss 0, formedon the slide 0. The hammer is held against an electric tube by means ofthe helical spring 0 which also gives it the percussive force when apercussion-tube is used and is placed around the tube 0 and held inposition by the screwed cap C at one end and a collar 0, formed on thetube G at the other. The firing-pin C has a head C formed on its endbearing against the insulated collar 0 of the tube G On the end of thetube C is placed a suitable handle C, which is kept in place by the nuts0 and C The head 0 of the tube 0 has a toe O projecting through andworking in a slot in the side of the boss C The projection 0 Worksagainst an inclined ledge O formed on the nut G. It also forms a scarfor engaging with trigger E when cooked for percussion firing. Thetrigger E is the ordinary form of spring-trigger and is carried in aprojecting boss 0 from the side of the boss 0 A suitable electriccontactis carried in the nut B screwed on a boss provided on the nut G.The connection between the contact and the firing-pin is made on thehead 0 of the pin 0 The retaining-bolt O is formed on the outer end inthe shape of a ring or loop for withdrawing purposes.

The action is as follows: On the first movement of the sliding bar ofthe breech mechanism in unlocking the breech-plug the head O of theneedle 0 is caused to move away from the tube or primer by means of thetoe O riding up the inclined ledge (J of the nut G, thus breaking theelectric circuit between the firing-head C and the tube and preventingthe head C from striking the percussiontube. On the continued movementof the sliding bar the toe O continues to ride on the ledge 0", th us insuring safety while the breech mechanism is unlocked. Themovementdownward of the slide and action of the extractor is the same asthat described in reference to Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive. To cook the head0 for percussion firing, it is drawn rearward by hand until it isretained by the trigger E Having thus described the nature of thisinvention and the best means we know for carrying the same intopractical etfect,we claim- 1. In firing mechanism for a breech-loadinggun, in combination with the breech-plugcarrier and its horizontalslide-bar, a hammer having an insulated striker, a spring-trigger, a nuton the obturating-bolt, and a sliding plate thereon adapted to cover anduncover the head of a firing-tube, or primer, and to actuate anextractor, substantially as described.

2. In firing mechanism for a breech-loading gun, in combination with thebreech-plug carrier and its horizontal slide-bar, an insulated slidingstriker and its spring-trigger, a nut on the obturating-bolt, and asliding plate thereon adapted to cover and uncover the head of afiring-tube, or primer, and to actuate an extractor, substantially asdescribed,

In witness whereof we have signed our names to this specification, inpresence of two subscribing witnesses, this 4th day of October, A. D.1897.

DOUGLAS VICKERS. ARTHUR TREVOR DAXVSON. GEORGE THOMAS BUCKHAM.

WVitnesses:

HENRY GLOVER CooLEY, F. V. J ACKSON.

